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Users Manual
Chapter 1: Introduction
Welcome
Welcome to E&P TANK Version 3.0, a software program that predicts hydrocarbon
emissions from production oil tanks. This version of E&P TANK is compatible with both 32bit and 64-bit Windows 7 as well as Windows 2000/XP/Vista.
Low Pressure Oil This option is used as direct input for emission calculations. In
this case, the low pressure oil from the separator is passed through a flash valve in
which the pressure is reduced. The flash loss is estimated based on the conditions of
the separator as well as the ambient temperature and pressure. A pressure-enthalpy
(P-H) flash calculation is used to take into account the pressure drop. In addition, the
separator temperature and pressure are also required for the calculation of the
specific gravity of flash oil. The characterization of Cn+ fraction as described above is
performed prior to the flash calculation.
High Pressure Oil This option has been updated. An initial calculation is performed
to estimate the composition of low pressure oil. The estimated composition of the low
pressure oil is used in the algorithm for low pressure oil input as described above to
calculate the flash loss and the specific gravity of flash oil.
Low Pressure Gas This option has been revised. Molar ratios (C7:C8:C9:C10) are no
longer required as inputs. Instead, the gas-oil ratio (GOR) is a required input to
generate the composition of high pressure oil through iterative calculations. Once the
high pressure oil composition is obtained, the program uses the procedures
described in the High Pressure Oil section are used to estimate the flash losses and
specific gravity of the flash oil.
Geographic Database This option is used in the cases where lab analysis is not
available. The existing database remains unchanged from v2.0 and contains 103
cases divided into four geographic regions and classified by sales oil properties (API
and RVP) and separator conditions (temperature and pressure).
Compatibility with 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7, and Windows XP operating systems.
Measurement unit system options The user may select either English or SI units or
create his/her own unit system by mixing the two unit systems (for example, bar for
pressure and C for temperature).
VOCs
Benzene
Methane
Octanes
Toluene
Ethane
Nonanes
Ethyl-Benzene
Propane
Benzene
Xylenes
n-Butane
Toluene
n-Hexane
i-Butane
Ethyl-Benzene
n-Pentane
Xylenes
i-Pentane
Heptanes+
n-Hexane
Octanes+
Hexanes
Nonanes+
Heptanes
Decanes+
A study previously undertaken by the API evaluated alternatives for quantifying the
hydrocarbon emissions from petroleum production tanks [1]. The study concluded that direct
field sampling and analysis from each production tank were deemed not feasible from
economic and technical viewpoints. Therefore, development of a computer-based simulator
for estimating emissions was recommended.
The calculation algorithm of this software follows the recommendation of a previous API
study [1]. A steady-state model is used to simulate petroleum production tank operations.
The contribution by flash losses to the total vent from the tanks is calculated rigorously
according to thermodynamic principles. The working and standing losses are simulated
differently depending upon the nature of the tank. For oil production tanks, the working and
standing losses are represented by a distillation column operation, either of which will
generate a certain amount of vaporization so that the characteristics of the produced liquid
matches the sales oil specifications such as Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP). In addition, a
modified AP-42 method may be used instead of the distillation column method for calculating
working and standing losses from oil production tanks. For storage tanks containing stable
oil or sales oil, the work and standing losses are calculated by a modified AP-42 method.
Printer (optional)
Network Edition
After installation, the E&P TANK program group will be created. The default installation directory
is: C:\Program Files\API\ EP Tank 3.0.
For further details please refer to the document EP_TanksV3_Installtion_Guide.pdf. Which is
can be downloaded by clicking the link.
Note: If there is already a version (including demos) of E&P TANK on your system, please
uninstall the existing version first. For further information on uninstalling, refer to your Microsoft
Windows Help system. Please ensure the regional language settings are English (US or
Canada) otherwise some features will not be accessible.
Select E&P TANK from Program in the Start menu of the Windows Taskbar,
-orDouble-click EPTANK.exe file in the installation folder through Windows Explorer.
2. In the Welcome to the E&P TANK Program dialog, select appropriate option to open a
new project, the last project, or an existing project and click OK.
Note: The security method must be properly configured to run E&P Tank. To see how to setup
security method, please refer to Chapter 2.
Right click on the E&P TANK title bar and select Close.
3. In the Data Input window, provide inputs via hotspots (devices or flow lines) on the input
flowsheet.
4. Execute calculations.
5. View and print results.
6. Save the project.
Working Environment
The application window of E&P TANK v3.0 can be divided into two main areas:
Function Palette
Function
Palette
Located in the left pane, the Function Palette consists of navigating buttons. Upon clicking on a
navigating button, the Data Operating Area to the right of the Function Palette displays the
corresponding window. There are three operating windows in E&P TANK:
Project Setup
Data Input
Data Output
The Data Operating Area occupies the right pane of the application window. It displays the
corresponding worksheet that you select from the Button Palette. The Data Operating Area is
the main working area where you can input data and view calculation results.
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Unit Manager
Select Unit Conversion on the primary menu and then Start Unit Manager. The Unit
Manager window is composed of three main sections:
The default unit system selection
The parameter tab
The parameter selection on the left corner
The parameter (Pressure, Volume, Temperature etc.) tab, displays the number of Unit Items,
customized units and also a data area where all the conversion parameter values are listed.
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the Unit Conversion menu. Besides selecting the unit system, users may select mol % or wt %
from the toolbar or the Unit Conversion menu.
Unit Conversion
Select the unit to be converted from, by scrolling through the list of units in the from
field.
Select the unit to be converted to, by scrolling through the list of units in the To
window.
Project Setup
Project Setup
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To Setup a Project
1. On the Configuration tab in the Project Setup window:
a. Make a Flowsheet Selection
b. Select a model to calculate Working and Standing (W&S) losses. Regardless of which
model you select in step 2, E&P TANK uses the Peng-Robinson equation of state to
calculate flash loss.
c. If the flowsheet with separator was selected in Step 1a, select a Separator Stream for
which compositional information is known.
d. Click to select Control Efficiency and specify the percentage, if desired.
e. Select Calculation Basis. If Monthly is selected, specify which month(s) to calculate.
f.
Make a Component Group selection from the drop-down menu reflecting the last Cn+ in
the input stream analytical data.
g. If you select flowsheet with separator in Step 1a and RVP as calculation model in Step
1b, the Air Injection option will be available for you to specify the daily air injection.
2. Switch to the Project Description tab to enter details about the facility. This information will
help identify the project.
Note: Once a Cn+ group is selected and the characterization is completed, the component
group selection option will be dimmed and changes in the Cn+ group will not be allowed.
Data Input
The Data Input flowsheet is object oriented. The flowsheet changes according to your project
setup. Hotspots are colored green in the flowsheet.
Some but not all of the following inputs are required for each project:
Separator
Air Injection
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Separator
Users enter the input data such as separator conditions and detailed compositional data for
separator oil or gas. The input varies according to your selection of Known Separator Stream
Information in the Project Setup window.
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16
17
Geographical Database
If you do not have any stream data on the separator, you may select the Geographical
Database option in the Project Setup window. This option offers a selection of 103 cases that
are stored in a database sorted according to their geographical regions, sales oil, and separator
conditions. The parameters for each case are taken from actual field data. The separator oil
compositions are also associated with the selection of these cases. Hence, the separator
compositions are automatically fixed upon the selection of a geographical site and a specific
case.
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4. After the selections made in Step 2 and Step 3, the composition of the low-pressure oil is
automatically displayed in the left pane.
5. Click OK to accept selection and exit the dialog.
Stable Oil
This input is required if you select the Stable Oil Tank flowsheet. In order to execute the standalone AP-42 calculations, users must provide the compositions of the stable oil entering the
storage tank.
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20
21
22
Note: The solar absorbance factors of paint are taken from an AP-42 publication [8] based on
the conditions of the tank.
Sales Oil
If the RVP Distillation Column method is selected, the sales oil properties required as inputs in
the Sales Oil dialog are production rate, days of annual operation, API gravity, and Reid vapor
pressure. If the AP-42 method is selected the bulk temperature of the sales oil is an additional
parameter required to be input. These data are commonly available. If the calculation is on the
monthly basis, the production rate and actual number of operating days in each month should
be entered.
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Flash Valve
To specify the flash valve inputs:
1. Click on the Flash Valve hotspot in the Data Input flowsheet.
2. Enter the Ambient Pressure and Ambient Temperature. If the ambient temperature is
unavailable, use temperature of the upstream separator.
3. Click OK to return to the Input Flowsheet window.
Note: The flash valve is not a physical piece of equipment. It simply illustrates pressure
reduction in a flow line.
Air Injection
Air or gas injection is optional. It is introduced into the system as an air and/or gas blanket. This
option is available to RVP Distillation method only.
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3. Click on the Air Injection hotspot on the Input Flowsheet. The Air/Gas Input dialog
appears.
Air Injection
4. Enter the daily air/gas injection volume.
5. Provide the air/gas Compositions.
6. Click OK to return to the Input Flowsheet.
Data Output
Predicted results are viewed in the Data Output window. The program will advance to the Data
Output window once the calculations have converged.
Output Flowsheet
Emission Summary
Emission Compositions
Stream Data
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If monthly calculations are selected, Total HAPs, Total HC, VOCs, and emissions of CO2 and
CH4 are tabulated for comparison on a monthly basis and monthly plots are available by clicking
on the chart icon on the toolbar.
Output Flowsheet
Clicking on a hotspot (colored red) in the Output Flowsheet activates a pop-up dialog that
consists of compositional information and stream properties for the selected hotspot.
Note: Output flowsheet is not available when running monthly calculations.
Output Flowsheet
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Emission Summary
This tab contains the controlled and uncontrolled emissions for components of specific interest.
They are the Total HAPs, Total HC, VOCs, C2+, VOCs, C3+, CO2, and CH4. Note that because
emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHG), specifically CO2, will depend on the control strategy
(i.e. combustion vs. vapor recovery), controlled emissions of GHG are left to the user to
calculate on a facility-specific basis.
This tab also lists the uncontrolled recovery for Vapor, HC Vapor, CO2, CH4, and GOR from the
oil storage tank.
Emission Summary
Emission Compositions
Similar to the Emission Summary tab, this tab presents the controlled and uncontrolled
emissions for all the components in your system. In this list, control efficiency is applied to the
combustible components and the non-combustible components pass through unaltered by the
control efficiency factor. However, since control strategies vary combustion products are NOT
calculated by the program so that CO2 emissions must be calculated via other methods.
Emission Compositions
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28
Stream Data
This tab shows the compositions for all the different streams as well as their physical and
thermodynamic properties.
Stream Data
29
Emission Plot
30
Print Preview
3. Click Print to start printing. Alternatively, you can save the report to a file or copy the
report to another location or Export to excel.
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Print to MS Excel
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To Print a Project
To print a project in text file format (if Microsoft Excel is not installed in your computer):
1. Click on the Print button on the toolbar or select Print... from the File menu.
2. In the Print Report dialog, select an item to print and click OK.
3. In the E&P TANK Print Preview dialog, click Print to start printing.
While you are in the E&P TANK Print Preview dialog, you can also save the calculation results
to a file for future review or copy the results into another location for editing.
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If Microsoft Excel is installed in your computer, refer to To Export Results to Excel to obtain
a hard copy of the project in the Excel format.
To Save a Project
Click on the Save button on the toolbar or select Save from the File menu.
Saving a Project
To Delete a Project
In Windows Explorer, select the project file click Delete.
It is important to note the relationship between the LP separator and the flash calculation
performed at the entrance to the storage tank. Currently, the Oil Tank module completes the
flash calculation at a user specified ambient temperature. This temperature is necessary as it
will produce the most accurate representation of the losses at the flash valve. However, if this
ambient temperature is not available, the user can provide the previously recorded separator
temperature for the most conservative estimate of the flash losses.
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36
Following the inlet flash calculation are the tank operations. The operation of the fixed roof tank
is simulated by a distillation column with four trays operation. Similarly to the flash valve, the
produced vapor also contributes to the total tank emissions, while the liquid phase from the fixed
roof tank represents the sales oil.
Working and standing losses are highly dynamic in nature and cannot be described solely by
steady-state models. However, since most of the dynamic information, such as meteorological
and daily liquid level data, is cumbersome to use, an inference method was designed to
circumvent this difficulty [1]. The method imposes a constraint that the characteristics of the
liquid effluent from the storage tank should match the sales oil characteristics (e.g., RVP and
API gravity). This inference method ensures that all effects of dynamic parameters are suitably
represented by the simulator. The shortcoming of using this inference method is that the model
may artificially adjust some operating parameters of the tank to reflect the effects of dynamic
parameters. For example, the model may be forced to raise the operating temperature of the
storage tank beyond that actually encountered to compensate for the elevated emission level
resulting from extended residence times of the sales oil.
In E&P TANK, two different alternatives for estimating flashing, working, and standing losses
are provided. The first alternative estimates the flash loss using rigorous thermodynamic flash
calculations and estimates working and standing losses with a fixed roof tank simulation. Here,
a four-tray distillation column representation is attempted. In this case, detailed information such
as tank characteristics and site meteorological data are not necessary to estimate emissions.
The minimum information requirements for this method are:
Reference Pressure
The second alternative estimates the flash losses using the same rigorous thermodynamic flash
calculations as in the first method. However, working and standing losses are estimated using
the modified AP-42 equations which require details on tank characteristics and site
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meteorological data. In addition to the information requirements listed above for the first
approach, at a minimum, the second approach requires the following input data:
Tank Diameter
Both approaches are available to the user, thereby allowing emission estimates to be made
depending upon data availability and user needs. In general, the first approach will yield more
conservative (i.e. higher) emission estimates than the second approach.
Influent Specifications
There are several modes for users to specify influent data for the model (i.e. the model is able to
accept different types of compositional input data). Each of the options that follow either accepts
or completes a calculation to generate the LP separator oil composition. It is this fluid that
undergoes flashing, working and standing losses to produce emissions.
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39
The documented AP-42 method [3] uses empirical correlations for estimating evaporative (nonflash) losses from fixed-roof tanks. The data required to use the AP-42 method can be classified
into three categories:
1. Tank Characteristics
2. Meteorological Information
3. Oil Specifications
Tank characteristics include tank shape and size, paint color, average liquid height, and
breather vent pressure setting. Meteorological information includes daily maximum and
minimum ambient temperature, solar insolation on a horizontal surface, and reference ambient
pressure. Oil specifications include oil RVP and throughput. Separate empirical correlations are
applied for both working and standing losses in a specified time period and results are
presented in units of emission (for example, ton or lb).
The modification of the AP-42 method in this package is focused on oil specifications. Rigorous
thermodynamic calculations based on the Peng-Robinson EOS [4] have been introduced to
characterize oils whenever necessary. A summary of changes is provided as follows:
The AP-42 method is deemed unsuitable if the oil vapor pressure at the specified
average tank temperature equals or exceeds the reference ambient pressure.
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this assumption is a fairly good approximation. Also, the Peng-Robinson EOS [4] has been
chosen for property-related calculations because it is one of the most widely accepted models in
the hydrocarbon processing industry.
When vapor and liquid phases are in equilibrium, the fugacity of each component in the vapor
(fiV) is equal to its fugacity in the liquid (fiL). The fugacities in the liquid and vapor are defined by:
fi L iL xi P
f iV Vi yi P
where
P
xi
yi
iL
Vi
One advantage of using an EOS model is that the fugacity coefficients in both the vapor and
liquid phases are treated uniformly by the following relation:
ln i
1 P RT
PV
dV ln
RT V ni V
RT
where
The above thermodynamic relationships, in conjunction with material and energy balances, are
used extensively in the program to solve for vapor-liquid-equilibrium (VLE) conditions. Detailed
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discussions about the calculation schemes for convergence are covered in standard
thermodynamic textbooks such as the one by Smith and Van Ness [5].
In particular cases where the VLE separation is achieved through column distillations, the
simulation of the column is accomplished using the Ishii-Otto [6] algorithm. The Ishii-Otto
algorithm is fairly stable and fast in reaching convergent solutions for most hydrocarbon
applications.
Choi, M., API Tank Vapors Project, Paper (SPE 26588) presented at the meeting of
68th Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum
Engineers. Houston, Texas: October 3-6, 1993.
[2]
Pedersen, K.S., Thomassen P. and Fredenslund Aa., paper presented at the AICHE
Spring National Meeting New Orleans LA, 6-10 March, 1988.
[3]
Gas Research Institute, Technical Reference Manual for GRI-GlyCalc: A Program for
Estimating Emissions from Glycol Dehydration of Natural Gas, Prepared by Radian
International LLC, 1996.
[4]
Peng, D.Y. and Robinson, D.B., A New Two-Constant Equation of State, Industrial and
Engineering Chemistry Fundamentals, 15(1):59-64, 1976.
[5]
Smith,
J.M.
and
Van
Ness,
H.C.,
Introduction
to
Chemical
Engineering
Ishii, Y. and Otto, F.D., A General Algorithm for Multistage Multicomponent Separation
Calculations, Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering. 51: 601-606, 1973.
[7]
[8]
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43
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10 F (6 C) lower than the source temperature. If it is, this technique should not be
used. Low cylinder temperatures often cause the cylinder to fill completely with liquid,
thus resulting in a serious hazardous situation when the cylinder is allowed to warm. To
prevent the hazardous situation, an alternate technique, such as the Liquid
Displacement Method, should be used. The cylinder must be an approved type with a
current certification date for sample transport to the laboratory. In the United States, the
cylinder must be an approved type with a current certification date for sample
transportation to the laboratory. In the United States, the cylinder must be approved by
the U.S. Department of Transportation, while transporting a cylinder in many
international locations requires certification by Lloyds Register Industrial Services.
4. Connect the sampling line to the liquid source and the sample cylinder in the manner
shown in Figure C-1, leaving the fitting on the cylinder end of the connector line finger
tight.
5. Slowly purge the sample line to displace air and to vent sufficient liquid to clean the
sample point and sampling system.
6. With a wrench, properly tighten the connecting line fitting to the cylinder fitting.
7. With the sample line purged and full of liquid and the separator liquid source valve fully
open, hold cylinder in a vertical position with the inlet valve at the bottom and slowly (but
fully) open the lower cylinder valve to admit liquid into the container. Refer to Figure C-1.
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8. When the liquid stops flowing into the cylinder, close the inlet valve before moving the
cylinder out of the vertical position. The sample collected in this manner will be in two
phases, gas and liquid. The sample cylinder will have some portion of its volume as gas
cap, which can safely accommodate any liquid expansion if the cylinder temperature
increases during shipment to the laboratory.
9. Close the valves from the sample source and de-pressurize the connect line. Dismantle
the sampling assembly and install the blow plug in the sample cylinder valve used for
sample entry.
10. Fill in information on the sample tag as completely and accurately as possible and attach
the tag to the sample cylinder. Also on a separate sheet of paper, make a list of all of the
information recorded on the cylinder tag along with the cylinder number. Prepare the
information for all cylinders involved in the sample collection on the sheet of paper for
separate mailing to the laboratory.
11. Repeat the above procedures using all separator liquid cylinders provided.
Notes (Item 8):
The (safe) situation of having a two phase system in the container will not change to an unsafe
single liquid phase situation unless one or more of the following is allowed to occur:
Containers are left on the pressure source for an extended length of time. It is not
important to have the container completely full of sample. The representative liquid has been
admitted to the cylinder and is not altered in composition; it merely has been flashed to a two
phase condition for transport to the laboratory. When this sample is received in the laboratory, it
is pressured up to considerably above the source pressure by mercury injection prior to removal
of any portion of the contents. During the re-pressurization, the saturation pressure is measured
to check the validity of the sample contained. If the saturation pressure obtained does not
approximate the separator conditions, any subsequent analysis performed using the sample will
be in error.
Medium gravity, 20 to 27 API crude oils are particularly susceptible to foaming and, if sampled
directly into an evacuated cylinder, could result in obtaining a cylinder virtually full of gas with a
small amount of foamy oil. The procedure of sampling a liquid by gas displacement is used to
overcome this potential foaming problem. The description of this procedure begins below.
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prevent the alteration of the sample composition, the liquid must be taken in one quick
motion.
12. Install blow plugs securely in both valves.
13. Fill in information on the sample tag as completely and accurately as possible and attach
to the sample cylinder.
14. On a separate sheet of paper, list the cylinder number with all of the information
recorded on the sample cylinder tag. Include this information for all cylinders involved in
the sample collection on this same sheet of paper. Send this information under separate
cover to the laboratory.
15. Repeat the above procedure using all separator liquid cylinders provided.
Notes:
Medium gravity, 20 to 27 API, crude oils are particularly susceptible to foaming and if sampled
directly into an evacuated cylinder, could result in obtaining a cylinder virtually full of gas with a
small amount of foamy oil. The procedure of sampling a liquid by gas or liquid displacement is
used to overcome this potential foaming problem.
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5. Partially open the separator liquid source valve, allowing a slow displacement of air from
the connecting line. Continue venting sufficient liquid to clean the sample point and
sampling system.
6. With a wrench, properly tighten the connecting line to the cylinder fitting.
7. Fully open the separator liquid source valve.
8. Maintain the cylinder in a vertical position with the inlet valve at the top throughout the
sample collection procedure.
9. Fully open the upper cylinder valve.
10. With the cylinder perfectly vertical, slowly open the bottom valve of the cylinder to allow
a slow (small) stream of displacement liquid to drain into a graduated cup.
11. Maintain the slow rate of displacement liquid removal so that no appreciable pressure
drop occurs in the sampling system. One must not rush this procedure.
12. When 90 percent of the sample cylinder volume has been collected, close first the
bottom valve and then the top valve of the sample cylinder.
13. With the top valve of the cylinder closed, slowly drain from the bottom of cylinder the
remaining 10 percent of the displacement liquid. Close the bottom valve of the sample
cylinder immediately when the separator liquid appears. Creating a gas cap in this
manner is easily accomplished, perfectly safe and of very little risk to the integrity of the
sample.
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14. Close the valve from sample source and depressurize the sampling system.
15. Disconnect the sample cylinder from the sampling hose.
16. Securely install blow plugs into both sample cylinder valves.
17. Fill in information on the sample tags as completely and accurately as possible and
attach to the sample cylinder.
18. On a separate sheet of paper, list the cylinder number with all of the information
recorded on the sample cylinder tag. Include this information for all cylinders involved in
the sample collection on this same sheet of paper. Send this information under separate
cover to the laboratory.
19. Repeat the above procedure using all separator liquid cylinders provided.
Notes:
The Liquid Displacement sampling technique is generally utilized when collecting LPG and NGL
samples. This procedure ensures a good gas cap inside the cylinder. Samples of these
products can be extremely dangerous if the cylinder is absolutely liquid filled and allowed to
warm while in transport to the laboratory.
Index
Output ................................................. 24, 25
Paste ......................................................... 32
Printing Results ......................................... 29
Project Setup ............................................ 12
Projects ......................................... 12, 33, 34
creating ............................................ 12, 33
deleting .................................................. 34
opening .................................................. 33
Printing a Project ................................... 33
saving .................................................... 34
References ................................................ 42
Sales Oil .................................................... 22
Saving ...................................................... .34
a project ................................................. 34
Stable Oil .................................................. 18
System Requirements ................................ 6
Technical ............................................. 39, 42
Technical Basis ..................................... 39
Technical References ........................... 42
Welcome ..................................................... 1
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